Prediction: Santos win @ 1.95

With the chance to reach the runner-up of the Brasileirão version 2017, Santos receives the Avaí this Sunday, December 3rd. At Vila Belmiro, in Santos, the match, which is part of the schedule of the thirty-eighth and final round of the Brazilian Championship, is scheduled to start at 17h (Brasília time).

Santos’s recent performance

The Saints occupy the fourth place in the standings with 62 points (17 wins, 11 draws and nine losses). Still have a chance to overcome Palmeiras, second placed with 63, and Grêmio, who has the same score, but takes advantage of the tiebreaker criteria. The rivals will face, respectively, Atletico-PR (away) and Atletico-MG (away).
Technically these two extra positions mean little, since the Fish, for being among the first four, has already secured the right to play in the group stage of the Copa Libertadores of America. In practice, the runners-up would only yield a bigger prize according to the quotas offered by the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) to the clubs according to their position at the end of the dispute.
It is not, however, sufficient to bring about significant changes in the shaken finances of the club, which is undergoing an electoral process. The political turmoil ended up making the preparation for the game end up in the background, even because interim coach Elano does not even know if he will remain in office next season. Everything will depend on the outcome of the elections.
So the game this Sunday has a good chance of being his last in charge of alvinegro. For the possible farewell, he made some changes. Defender Alison and striker Ricardo Oliveira, who are suspended for the accumulation of yellow cards, will be replaced by, respectively, Matheus Jesus and Kayke.
There is still a doubt on the left-hand side. With no options for the position, midfielder Jean Mota would be improvised at the stand. But with muscle aches, he became doubtful. It will depend on reassessment of the medical department. If it is vetoed, Elano could pull back the half-cap or call on some athlete from the base divisions.

The current form of Avaí

Avaí spent most of the Brasileirão in the relegation zone. He finished the penultimate round in eighteenth place. He has 42 points (ten wins, 12 draws and 15 losses). The 1-0 home win against Atletico-PR was enough to keep hopes of a last-minute reaction going.
To be able to stay in Serie A, the team from Santa Catarina must win their match. Matches or defeats would mathematically seal their fall to the Second Division. However, only the three points are not enough.
There is a need for Avaí to surpass at least two rivals, since Ponte Preta and Atlético-GO are already down. Thus, it would need to count with two trips of Victory (43 points), Coritiba (43) or Sport (42). They will face, respectively, Flamengo (home), Chapecoense (outside) and Corinthians (home). It is not a combination of the easiest.
The good news of the preparation was the return to the training of the one that has been the most important attacker of Avaí. Recovered from injury, Júnior Dutra, who negotiates his transfer to Corinthians, has returned to normally participate in the training and should be promoted as a starter by coach Claudinei Oliveira.

History of the bouts between Santos and Avaí
In ten games between the teams in the Brasileirão, Avaí was able to win only one chance. The scoreless equality of the first round of the 2017 season made the tie the most frequent result with five events. The Saints won four times.

Even when it was possible to raise bigger flights in the Brasileirão the Santos showed a slow, modest and little creative soccer. Hard to imagine that he will be able to change this scenario precisely in a friendly match. Therefore, the guess in Avaí appears with the most appropriate for the confrontation. Has a prize of 3.80 in Rivalo. Draw shows return of 3.50 and success of the owners of the house yields 1.95 per 1.